Connecting structure



' April 21, 1953 H. P. ALBRECHT ET AL CONNECTING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 51 1949 m Mm/ FIE Patented Apr. 21, 1953 CONNECTING STRUCTURE Henry P. Albrecht, Kermit H. Wilson, and Neil M.

Clark, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Wilson- Albrecht Co. Inc., Minneapolis, Minn a corporation of Minnesota Application December 31, 1949, Serial No. 136,334

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for detachably joining associated parts of connected structures. While the invention has many possible applications, one particular use in practice there of is for detachably connecting the load-supporting members or standards of prefabricated, knockdown scaffold structures to cooperating braces or other members thereof. I

It is now a common practice to have prefabricated, knockdown supporting structures for scaffolds or platforms which support workers at an elevation. These scaffold-supporting structures generally comprise spaced standards and certain connecting and bracing members. It is desirable to have the various members of these scaiiold structures readily detachable so that they can be disassembled for storage and transportation purposes. It is also desirable to have a simple and eflicient connecting structure for the various parts by means of which they can be quickly assembled and securely held in assembled relation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and eificient connecting structure including an easily operated locking device or member which will insure that the parts will be securely but detachably held in assembled relation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a connecting structure comprising a load-supporting standard and a member such as a brace connected thereto including a locking member to prevent removal of said connected member or brace, which locking member will be permanently carried on said standard and can be easily and quickly moved to locking or releasing position.

It is more specifically an object of this invention to provide a connecting structure comprising a standard, a pin-like member or stud secured thereto and projecting therefrom, the latter being adapted to extend through an opening in a connected member and to support the same and having a slot extending transversely therethrough adjacent its outer end, together with a locking member having a portion adjacent said standard with a slot therein, said portion being movable transversely of said pin-like member or stud butbeing prevented from movement longitudinally thereof, said locking member comprising another portion spaced from said first mentioned portion and, disposed at the outer side of said connected member adapted to extend through said slot in said pin-like member or stud to prevent removal of said connected member.

v These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a scaffold structure of a kind adaptable to practicing of the in vention, but in which, view, the lock members of the invention have been omitted in the interest of clarity; V I

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of the connected scafiold structure of Fig. 1, viewed as indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. l and associated arrows, but further including a locking member of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation as seen from the right of Fig. 2, but with the brace member removed; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2 and looking downwardly, as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, especially Fig. l, a knockdown scaffold-supporting device or structure of one type is shown comprising pairs of spaced load-supporting members or standards H], the same having foot plates l I at their lower ends. The pairs of standards it! are connected by cross members [2 at their upper ends, said standards having upwardly extending projections lZa adapted to receive additional supporting standards for a superposed section. The standards ID of each pair are connected by diagonally extending brace members [3 shown as being connected by a bolt or pin I 4 at their crossing points. Other vertical brace members i5 are shown extending from upper cross members l2 respectively to lower cross members l6 extending between and connecting the adjacent standards In. horizontal braces I! extend between members l5 and one of the standards ID.

A preferred form of our improved connecting structure between the standards In and the brace members 13 is shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 2 through 4. Preferably, and as shown, the standards l0 have, secured thereto and projecting substantially perpendicular therefrom, pins or pin-like members or studs 20. While these could be secured to the standards It in any suitable manner, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated. the member 20 is shown .as set into and welded to said standard, as shown at Illa. Preferably, pin member 20 is provided with a reduced portion 20a adjacent standard If! and, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, this is formed by vertical slots 201) at opposite sides of pin member 20. Member 20 also has an elongated aperture or slot 200 extending transversely Other of the brace members [3 and to support said brace member. An inverted U-shaped-llocking member 24 is provided. and while this might be variously formed, in the embodiment-f theinvention illustrated, it is shown as formed of a flat plate and as comprising an upper connecting portion 24b, a long inner leg 24a, and a short outer leg 24c spaced from the inner .leg toreceive the associated end of a brace member l therebetween and the inner leg 24a. Preferably, and as illustrated, the short leg 240 of the lock member 24 works slidably through the elongated aperture or slot 200 of pin 26, and the long leg 24a: is provided with a longitudinally extended elon gated slot or aperture 24 which is vertically slidably received in the guide slots orchannels 202) of pin 20. The outer end walls of the pin slots or channels 291) of pin Zflprovide stop portions which define stops which engage the long leg 24a to prevent outward movement on and outward displacement from the pin 20. Member 20'extends through an opening or hole I3a in one end of one of the brace members 13 and supports.

and anchors said brace member, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the opposite ends of'each of the several brace members i3 are connected to a-co0peratin load-supporting member or standard I!) by a pin member 20 in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The said brace member will be disposed adjacent the long legZ ia of lock member 24, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 4. The short outer leg 240, which extends generally parallel tothe long leg 24a, is adapted to be moved into and'through the slot 240, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 4.

by A and B, and a pin-engaging stop shoulder 24d. The inner surfaces of the short leg sections A and B are relatively offset, the space between the upper section A and long leg 24a being sufiicient to receive only one brace member l3, and the space between the section B and the lon leg 24a being sufiicient to receive two of said brace members I3. Member 2e can be moved 11pwardly to allow two brace members [3 to be applied on pin 23 between the lower section B-of le 24c and the long inner leg 24a. The stop shoulder 24d formed on leg 240 between its sections A and B would then rest upon the outer one of said brace members 13. While short leg 24c maybe variously formed, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, leg 24c-is reversely bent at its upper end, as shown in Figs.- 2 and 3, and is twisted through substantially ninety' degrees (90). Leg portion 240 is thus disposed in a plane substantially coincidental with or parallel to the axis of pin member 20, while leg 24a is disposed Leg 240, at its lower end is provided with an aperture in a plane perpendicular to the pin axis.

24c through which a wire or other means such as a resilient cotter pin Zimaybeinserted to positively lock the short leg Mo-against displacement from the aperture 20c of pin 20.

When one of the brace members I 3 is to be 0011-. r V nected to'or removedfrom the'standard. [0, look;

Prefer ably, and as shown, the short leg 24c'comprises. upper and lower sections, respectively indicated member 24 will be moved to the inoperative position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, at which time the end of portion 240 is disposed above pin sufiiciently to allow insertion or removal of the brace member over the free end of pin 20. Brace member l3 can now be moved axially or longitudinally on pin member 20 against leg 24a. The lock member 24' can then be allowed to drop downwardly and allow the lower section B of leg 240 to pass into and through the elongated aperture" or slot 200. Member 13 cannot thus be moved off of pin member 29. Leg 24a will be disposed in close'proximity to member l3 so that very little transverse movement of member I3 is possible." If desired; a resilient cotter pin, such as 25, a wireor other means may be passed through'or snapped into the aperture 24c to prevent member 24 from moving to releasing posi-- tion; This however is usually unnecessary. With the described structure it will be seen that brace member i3 is now securely held on pin member 20. In erecting the prefabricated, knockdown structure, lock member 24 can. be very easily moved to its upper inoperative or release position to permit the placing of brace I3 and member 2 3 can then be moved or allowed to drop to its operative locking position. The use of a connecting threaded and nutted bolt'is thus eliminated. The assembling operators are usually working at an elevation and the bolt or nut is often'dropped.

From the above description itwill beseen that we have provided a very simple and eiiicient connecting structure including a locking device, and one which is very'effi'cient and easily operated.

' The lock member 24 1s, as shown, made from a cessful and efficient and is being commercially made.

Referring to the'drawings, it will be seen that the lower end of slot 24] of the long leg 24a of the lock member 24 'is' closed to provide a stop C which engages the pin 20 at the extreme of upward movement of pin 24a and prevents upward displacement of lock member 24 from the pin. It will, of course, be appreciated that in preferred practice the several pin members 20 of Fig. 1 will all be correspondingly formed and will be equipped with lock members'24.

It will of course be understood that variou changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carryingout the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts' of thebrace memberQahd a short outer leg gen-- erally parallel to theinner legand disposed adjacent the outer side of the'brace member; thelegs pfthe lock member. being-longitudinally ex.-

tended transversely of the pin, as between the pin and each of the legs of the lock member one thereof having an aperture therethrough slidably receiving the other thereof and allowin sliding movements of the lock member transversely of the pin from an operative position wherein both legs of the lock member are in sliding engagement with the pin to an inoperative position wherein the long leg is in sliding engagement with the pin and the short leg is out of sliding engagement with the pin, that portion of the long leg which slidably engages the pin extending sufliciently beyond the plane of the free end of the short leg to remain in sliding engagement with the pin when the free end of the short leg is spaced sufficiently from the pin to allow movement of the brace member longitudinally of the pin to and from its operative position and over the free end of the pin.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the long leg defines a stop portion engageable with the pin at the extreme of movement of the lock member in the direction of its inoperative position to prevent displacement of the lock member from the pin transversely of the latter, and in which the pin defines a stop engageable with the long leg to limit outward movements thereof longitudinally of the pin.

3. In a knock-down scaffold structure, a loadsupporting standard, a pin carried by and projecting outwardly from the standard, the inner end of the pin being rigid with the standard and the outer end thereof being free, a brace member having an opening adjacent one end receiving said pin, and an inverted U-shaped lock member embracing the brace member and releasably retaining the same on the pin; said inverted U-shaped lock member comprising an upper connecting portion overlying the brace member, a long inner leg disposed adjacent the inner side of the brace member, and a short outer leg generally parallel to the inner leg and disposed adjacent the outer side of the brace member; the legs of the lock member being longitudinally extended transversely of the pin, said pin having an aperture through its outerend portion slidably receivingthe short outer leg of the lock member when the latter is in its operative position, as between the pin and the long leg of the lock member one thereof having an aperture therethrough receiving the other thereof and allowing limited sliding movements of the lock member transversely of the pin from an operative position wherein the short outer leg of the lock member is disposed in its receiving aperture of the pin to an inoperative position wherein the short leg is retracted from the short leg receiving aperture of the pin, that portion of the long leg which slidably engages the pin extending sufficiently beyond the plane of the free end of the short leg to remain in sliding engagement with the pin when the free end of the short leg is spaced suificiently from the pin to allow movement of the brace member longitudinally of the pin to and from its operative position and over the free end of the pin, the long leg defining a stop portion engageable with the pin at the ex- 7 treme of movement of the lock member in the direction of its inoperative position to prevent displacement of the lock member from the pin transversely of the latter, the pin defining a stop portion engageable with the long leg to limit outward movements thereof longitudinally of the pin.

4. In a knock-down scafiold structure, a loadsupporting standard, a pin carried by and projeoting outwardly from the standard, the inner end of the pin being rigid with the standard and the outer end thereof being free, a brace member having an opening receiving said pin, and an inverted U-shaped lock member mounted on the pin and embracing the brace member to releasably retain the latter on the pin; said inverted U-shaped lock member comprising an upper connecting portion overlying the brace member, a long inner leg disposed adjacent the inner side of the brace member, and a short outer leg generally parallel to the inner leg and disposed adjacent the outer side of the brace member; thelegs of the lock member being longitudinally extended transversely of the pin, said pin having an aperture through its outer end portion for slidably receiving the short outer leg of the look member when the latter is in its operative position, the long inner leg of the lock member having a longitudinally elongated slot therein slidably receiving the pin, said pin defining a stop shoulder engaging the long leg to retain the same against outward displacement from the pin, said long leg slot extending sufiiciently beyond the plane of the free end of the short outer leg to allow bodily upward sliding movements of the lock member to an inoperative position wherein the free end of the short outer leg is displaced from the pin aperture and is sufficiently spaced from the pin to allow sliding movement of the brace member on the pin to and from operative position and over the free end of the pin.

5. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein the short leg of the lock member comprises upper and lower sections, the inner surface of the latter of which is outwardly offset with respect to the former, the space between the said upper section of the short leg and the long leg being sufiicient to receive only one of said brace members and the space between the lower section of the short leg and the long leg being sufficient to receive two of said brace members.

HENRY P. ALBRECHT. KERMIT H. WILSON. NEIL M. CLARK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 882,875 Diehl Mar. 24, 1908 1,806,312 Schiller May 19, 1931 2,236,826 Maynes Apr. 1, 1941 2,368,544 Hogan Jan. 30, 1945 

